The Prince Wants to Retire

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The Crown Prince Desires Retirement

56. The War on the Horizon

An uneasy peace.

A short period of fragile peace arrived just before the Grand War, and everyone felt anxious about when it might shatter.

However, contrary to expectations of a quick break, this uneasy peace went on for quite a while.

Unlike the peaceful times, the Demons swiftly occupied the empty Northern territories and grew rapidly by turning those who fled from Roman or Central regions into Minions.

Roman also flourished immensely by conquering Sandria and the Central region.

Once on the brink of collapse, Roman regained its former glory once again.

The Southern region was also very active.

With its large population, it expanded its maritime trade significantly, achieving tremendous growth. Moreover, the new technologies imported from Ignit accelerated their development even further.

Ignit itself experienced colossal growth, leading the expansion of the Human Alliance.

“New Engine Development!”

“Advancements in Airship Technology!”

“Production of Magical Tools expanded more than tenfold!”

While the West Continent was thriving, news from the Emperor and the Masters across to the East Continent was notably quiet.

And this was a problem.

“New Demon Legion Commander Emerges!”

“Roman witnesses the birth of a new Master! A Leader of the Black Moon who wields two powers freely.”

“The King of Golan finally breaks through the walls and becomes a Master!”

“King Wingzar gains unprecedented strength through a magical sword?”

“Hidden Master of Sandria, the Desert Swordsman and Earth Sorcerer appear!”

And that’s not all.

Masters at the sixth tier began to be announced quite frequently, and the entire continent even selected the Top 100 Masters based on these new announcements.

The issue was that while strong Masters from foreign nations were increasing daily, Ignit showed no signs of change.

Some started to suspect that Ignit had sustained far more damage than thought.

And this suspicion only grew stronger with time.

Amid such circumstances, Roman, which had been consolidating its power, finally began to move.

“Roman and the Demons clash in the Northeast. What could possibly be there?”

A place that logically made no sense.

The Demons and Roman clashed over a rugged terrain where even a blade of grass struggled to grow. Those who had been hesitating over that region suddenly began sending armies there.

This news even reached the ears of Kariel, who had been deep in training.

“Is it finally beginning?”

Kariel murmured and looked at his attendant.

“Have we found the Hell Gate?”

“It seems not.”

“Have we merely discovered traces?”

As Kariel muttered this, he glanced at the report handed to him by the attendant.

“Land of Death”

1. A highland that crosses the Snowfields of the North and the desert land of the South.

2. Several enormous basins formed in some areas. (Believed to be the site of a great battle during the Mythical Era.)

3. Suspicious powers lie dormant throughout the plateau. (Likely powers related to Hell.)

4. Entry is difficult due to mana disturbances and bizarre natural phenomena.

Based on the report handed by the attendant, the Land of Death was a place where ordinary existences would struggle to enter.

However, it was the same for Roman’s Northern territories.

There remained many places presumed to be remnants of powers achieved during the Mythical Era and strange forces.

‘The conclusion was a bust.’

When they seized the North, they learned through the Secret Guardians that there were merely remnants of the powers of those who had achieved greatness during the Mythical Era.

It seemed that the Demons were aware of this too, as after Ignit retreated, they rabidly searched the old Northern regions of Roman.

A short while later, they surged forth crazily toward the vicinity of the Land of Death.

In response, Sandria also gathered a great army near the Land of Death. Years had passed like this.

“Three years… It lasted longer than I had anticipated.”

Kariel spoke with a smirk.

Ironically, just as in his previous life when he became Emperor, the Grand War was about to begin now.

“I had hoped to pass the throne by now and take off… But it’s become difficult.”

Kariel muttered, causing his attendant to give a wry smile.

“…You will achieve it someday, Your Majesty.”

“I hope so.”

With a faint smile at the attendant’s words, Kariel stood up.

“I’ve been so stooped for too long; my body feels like a ball of tension. It’s time to prepare the Empire to move.”

With that, Kariel exited the training grounds with his attendant.

After quietly training in the Giant’s Fortress, Kariel finally stepped outside.

To top it off, he decided to directly head to the Capital, which he had entrusted solely to his two younger siblings, hopping aboard an airship.

“I thought you would stay at the fortress.”

“One must do a final check before the upcoming war.”

Responding to Talion’s question, Kariel smiled.

“But you managed to persuade Lord Achelio somehow?”

“After all, I am a Master.”

Talion had persuaded Achelio, who desperately insisted on following as the Captain of the Imperial Palace Knights.

Achelio was currently training with a newfound lead, and Talion didn’t want to interrupt that.

Facing a Grand War, sparing any chance for improvement for trivial reasons was out of the question.

“Your Majesty, we will arrive soon.”

“Already? That’s fast!”

Kariel looked surprised that they arrived quicker than expected, thinking they would stop at a few more stations.

“How much has the output increased?”

He was astounded by the speed, which was on a whole different level compared to the airships he had known before.

Reports he had received only mentioned vague increases in output and reduced drag compared to the previous structure, using difficult terms that he’d glossed over.

But experiencing it firsthand, the difference was clear.

“The train’s speed has significantly increased too.”

At Talion’s words, Kariel smiled and nodded.

“There’s definitely visible advancement.”

Kariel smiled at the sight of the Capital below.

While the old-fashioned buildings remained, there were now high-rises sprouting, magical towers standing tall, surrounded by countless workshops.

He also noticed an enormous number of factories near the Capital.

“With no external threats, it’s expanding like crazy.”

As there was no longer any enemy in the West Continent to threaten Ignit, essential buildings had dramatically increased outside the Capital.

Seeing it in person made it evident what kind of changes Ignit had gone through over the past three years.

After the airship carrying Kariel landed in the Capital, the surprises continued.

He could hardly believe how much the standard of living for the Empire citizens had risen, despite knowing there had been ongoing wars.

“A lot more citizens are adorned in luxurious fabrics imported from the South.”

Kariel muttered with a smirk.

Once considered exclusive to the nobility, decorative items and fabrics had now become accessible to a majority of affluent Empire citizens.

It was apparent how much the privileges of the Nobles had transferred to the Empire citizens, allowing for greater freedom.

“I greet Your Majesty!”

Upon arriving in front of the Imperial Palace, the ministers and his two younger siblings bowed to Kariel.

It seemed like nearly every bureaucrat had rushed in to welcome Kariel back to the Imperial Palace after such a long absence.

“Don’t make a fuss and come inside; the ministers will join me in the conference room.”

With that, Kariel headed straight toward the conference room accompanied by his two siblings and the ministers. Though it might have been a time to celebrate his return, the situation wasn’t favorable.

“At last, Roman and the Demons are on the move.”

As soon as he arrived at the conference room, Kariel addressed the ministers.

“This meeting could perhaps be the last moment they see me.”

As soon as Kariel uttered those words, a shadow fell across the atmosphere of the conference room.

“…Your Majesty.”

The Chancellor seemed to want to say something, but Kariel raised a hand to halt him and shook his head.

“Surely, if this is the last time, I can’t keep vacillating on the throne.”

Kariel’s words made the eyes of the ministers and his siblings widen.

“Your Majesty! You are still young….”

“Perhaps you should rather get married!”

His two siblings protested strongly, trying to dissuade him.

Many of the other ministers echoed their sentiments.

In fact, throughout the prolonged period of peace, the ministers had repeatedly urged for him to marry.

But Kariel had refused.

The moment the war started, he needed to be on the front lines.

He thought it was better to not marry at all than to have a child become Emperor when they’d only just been born.

‘I will marry only if I return alive!’

He had told the persistent ministers this when he could, and that situation had continued so far.

But it couldn’t go on indefinitely with the next throne left in uncertainty.

“Your Majesty, why not marry before this happens?”

“Does the wedding need to be a grand affair?”

“Exactly! There are many candidates. The Princess of a Principality and the sister of the Iron Lord are also good options.”

Hearing the ministers’ words, Kariel smiled wryly and shook his head.

“The next crown prince will be Rufiel.”

At Kariel’s words, Rufiel’s pupils began to shake.

“And Seriel, if I die, you will oversee the troops at the Giant’s Fortress. You must prevent the Demons and Hell beasts from crossing over to the West Continent.”

Seriel’s expression darkened too as he watched his brother speak as though he were ready to die at any moment.

“If it burdens you, hold on for a few years and pass it to Miriel.”

Seeing Rufiel struggling, Kariel said.

Miriel, who was just a little girl when he left, had quickly grown, now managing the palace budget and even assisting in the Ministry of Finance.

If she continued to grow like this for a few more years, she’d become someone just as capable as Kariel.

“Do you really have to take action personally?”

The Chancellor, Winston, who had yet to retire, looked at Kariel and asked.

Winston had long wished to pass the position to Luther and retire, but the circumstances hadn’t allowed for it. Therefore, he was persisting in his position while looking quite pitiful. Kariel couldn’t help but smile at that.

“I’ve proven my strength adequately by now.”

“However…”

“It’s much better for me to wipe out the Army of Hell than to sit and hold this position. You must have heard about the outcomes of my training as well.”

At Kariel’s words, Winston sighed in silence.

“It seems everyone understands, so let me finish what remains to be said.”

Then, turning to his two siblings, Kariel spoke.

“I will appoint Rufiel as the Crown Prince and Seriel as the Supreme Commander of the West Continent. He will hold the authority to command all troops in the East Continent during my absence. Ministers, understand my will and prepare for the coronation of the Crown Prince and Supreme Commander as soon as possible.”

“I have received the command!”

To Kariel’s orders, all the ministers bowed and responded.

Once everyone left the conference room, only the Chancellor remained.

“I suppose I need to stay in the Imperial Palace a bit longer.”

“…I will consider it to be for the rest of my life.”

Seeing Winston’s expression, which hinted at not wanting to retire, Kariel smiled.

“From the reports, it seems Luther is doing well. It’s time to start handing things over.”

Winston’s eyes widened at those words.

He looked in disbelief at Kariel, who had delivered news he never expected.